So when it comes to ball valve use in the home, they’re incredibly useful since they help control how a liquid, a gas, or air flows from one space to another.

However, things can get a bit confusing if you happen to be unaware of their importance and how they can improve your home. So with ball valves being capable of serving several purposes, it’s important to understand how ball valves can provide you service and make your home fully operational.

Ball Valves: Industrial & Plastic

Whether it be for a toilet, a sink, or outdoor use, it’s important to understand which ball valve is necessary for the task at hand. With certain ball valves offering disadvantages and advantages for specific scenarios, you’ll need to identify what type substance is intended to pass through it and where the ball valve is going to be located. Two main ball valves you should familiarize yourself with are:

Industrial Ball Valve –

Industrial ball valves tend to be fairly inexpensive and come in stainless steel, copper ductile iron, bronze, brass, and other industrial grade materials. These ball valves can be used for controlling airflow or water within a home, but should be used inside as they have a limited temperature range.

PVC Ball Valve –

A PVC ball valve is much like an industrial ball valve and carries the same characteristics, but they are made from PVC. These are commonly used for pools and landscaping purposes.

Ball Valve Styles –

So now that we’ve explained the difference between industrial and PVC grade ball valves, it’s time to breakdown the different styles of ball valves on the market. Such ball valve styles are:

A Split-Body Ball Valve –

A split-body ball valve is a two part body that consists of a stem, seat rings, a ball, a cover, and other internal mechanisms. With a flange connection, the main two part body is pieced together. One of the body parts is smaller, which is put together by a bolted connection. The larger body part is where the ball is inserted. When it comes to the construction of smaller split-body valves, the body is joined together by a threaded connection.

Top-Entry Ball Valve –

A top-entry ball valve allows access to the internals and doesn’t require removal from a pipeline. So if you find yourself in a situation in which you have to repair, maintain, or assemble your top-entry ball valve, you shouldn’t have a problem.

End-Entry Ball Valve –

An end-entry ball valve consists of a single piece body. The ball itself is retained by a small insert after it is inserted from one of the ends. These valves are known to have screwed-end or flanged connection. If you’re in the market for an inexpensive valve, an end-entry ball valve might be your best choice.

Body Ball Valve (Three Piece) –

A body ball valve consists of three pieces. The middle part of the body ball valve is what carries all of the valve internals (with the stem passing through a hole located in the top of the valve). As for the two end caps, they’re held together by the middle body with nuts, bolts, or studs. When it comes to the end connections, they’re part of the end caps and they could be flanged, threaded, welded with a socket, or butt-welded.

Double Trunnion Ball Valves –

For this ball valve design, the ball utilizes two integral short-shaft extensions called the bottom and top trunnions. Both of these trunnions are fitted in bearings and they rotate freely once the shaft is turned to close or open the valve. Instead of the ball being held into place with two seat rings and floating towards the top slot like most ball valves, double trunnion ball valves hold the ball firmly in place. For closing or opening the valve, a shaft is utilized in the top.

Lubricated or Non-Lubricated Ball Valves –

These valves are just like other valves, with the sealing being accomplished by O-ring seals or bolted packing glands.

Ball Valve Applications

Ball valve applications are commonly used for:

Steam Services –

Ball valves are incredibly useful when controlling the pressure and flow of heated water vapor and steam. When it comes to heating, cleaning, or powering industrial buildings, steam services save a lot of money.

Feed & Water Cooling Systems –

Since ball valves can handle temperature changes and amounts of air, liquid, or gas passing through a pipe, many rely on them for their feed and water cooling system needs.

Instrument Root Valves –

Since ball valves can operate in an open position for most of their lives, they rarely need replacement when serving an instrument root valve system.

High-Point Vents & Low-Point Drains –

Since ball valves can manage gas, liquid, or air, they’re oftentimes used for low-point drains and high-point vents.

Bubble Tight Service –

When a pipe needs to be shut off for repair, replacement, or installation, a ball valve keeps everything sealed.

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